Barbara and Stan Ride to Key West, FL
11 June to 1 July 2005

     The next day all left for home or other places. Barb and I headed east across the Hover Dam, what a site it is, and on to Kingman. We made our way across I40. We made good time with lots of stops. In Oklahoma we stayed in a hotel with the Mother Road Run (route 66 ride) and there were around one hundred and forty bikes, of all types, at the hotel. On the night before we rode the Tail of the Dragon we stayed in Knoxville, TN. There were six Honda Gold wings with trailers on their way to the Goldwing Convention in Georgia. After ridding the Tail of the Dragon we headed south to Florida.

     We spent a total of four days in Orlando, two days in the Miami area and two days in Key West. While in Orlando we went to Epcot Center and several other local sight seeing areas. Of course it rained every day but we were only caught twice on our bike. Key West was great and we did all the sights there too.

     On Sunday, 26 June 05, we headed for home. Leaving Key West at 4 A.M. we went 653 miles to Tallahassee, FL. That was our longest day, however we did have a 632-mile day in Texas later that week. After FL. We drove along the gulf coast of Mississippi to New Orleans, LA. We drove the Harley down Bourbon Street and many other streets in the famed French Quarter. Once back on I10 we made our way across Texas and New Mexico. Going into Arizona we headed northwest across the Apache Indian Reservation and up to Flagstaff. In Flagstaff we got back on I40 and headed for home. Our last night was in Kingman and after a short 300 miles we were home, Friday 1 July.

     The total trip was 6,804.5 miles. We were in 14 states and visited 18 major cities. We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to do it again. Once you do a road trip like this, a 200 or 400-mile trip is nothing. I cannot express how much this type of a trip means to me. I am 55 years old and even though I have traveled a lot in my life it means more now as the day is coming soon when I may not be able to take a trip like this anymore. I don’t want to pass up a chance to travel and see more of the USA. I hope all of you get the bug and make the most of your days on earth by enjoying you life to the max.